Representatives from the ACB, Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, KfW, and SGP I and II service providers were recognised for their steadfast support and contributions to the programme’s success in Indonesia, Myanmar, and Viet Nam.
To mark the successful completion of the Small Grants Programme by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity II (SGP II) in Viet Nam, and to celebrate the achievements of both SGP I and II across the region, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) hosted a Partners’ Appreciation Night during the Eighth ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference (AHP8) in Quang Ninh, Viet Nam.
A total of EUR 7.71 million supported 52 small and micro-grant projects focused on biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, sustainable agriculture, and handicraft production for communities within and around select ASEAN Heritage Parks.
Initiatives on biodiversity conservation improved collaboration between the parks and local communities, enhanced community-led conservation efforts, and equipped hundreds of park staff with digital tools and training to monitor wildlife and curb illegal activities. The closing event brought together representatives from government, AHP management boards, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women, and youth, who played vital roles in the participatory implementation of the project in Indonesia, Myanmar, and Viet Nam.
“The success of SGP II in Viet Nam reflects what strong partnerships can achieve on the ground. Tonight, we celebrate not only the completion of the programme, but also our collective commitment to conserving biodiversity while improving people’s lives,” says Ms. Corazon De Jesus, Jr., the Acting Director of the Programmes Department and Director of the Sustainable Use and Access and Benefit-Sharing of the ACB.
Supported by the Federal Republic of Germany through the KfW Development Bank (KfW), and implemented in partnership with the Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, SGP II empowered people to protect Viet Nam’s rich natural heritage in four AHPs, namely Ba Be National Park, Hoang Lien National Park, Chu Mom Ray National Park, and Kon Ka Kinh National Park.
The SGP booth showcases project information, knowledge materials, and innovative products from supported grants, along with an interactive demonstration by WARECOD on creating biodiversity-inspired textile designs.
More than half of the investment also supported alternative and sustainable livelihoods, reducing pressure on forest ecosystems and empowering communities to develop biodiversity-based products and services that provided them alternative income and an increased awareness of the importance of conserving forest resources.
The appreciation night also recognised partners from SGP I and II, and the launch of the SGP II Teaser Video, which highlights stories and testimonials from individuals whose lives and landscapes have been transformed through the programme.
One of the featured initiatives was the Center for Water Resources Conservation and Development (WARECOD), a women-led ethnic group producing handcrafted, nature-inspired textiles dyed with inks extracted from indigo leaves. Their work not only generates additional income for the members, but also preserves their cultural heritage while expanding branding and market access to hotels and handicraft stores.
SGP II grantees WARECOD and IDEA set up their respective booths in the AHP8 marketplace to showcase and sell their handcrafted textiles and honey products.
SGP I accomplishments in Indonesia and Myanmar were also highlighted, including improved human-wildlife conflict management, increased biodiversity awareness, livelihood training of more than 3,000 individuals, and the development of more than 60 biodiversity-based products and services.
A tribute to partnerships
In his message, Dr. Jerome Montemayor, Executive Director of the ACB, expressed gratitude to the partners who contributed to the programme’s success.
“SGP II demonstrated the importance of community leadership and inclusive, multi-stakeholder collaboration in conservation. To the KfW, service providers, grantees, and all who have been part of SGP II, may your legacy to conserve the region’s precious web of life resonate with you in the years to come!,” he said.
As part of the celebration, an SGP exhibit booth was set up at AHP8, featuring various products from selected grantees, knowledge products about SGP I and II, infographics and project information board of selected small and micro-grant projects in Viet Nam, and an interactive demonstration from WARECOD on creating biodiversity-based patterns and designs for their handcrafted textile products.
WARECOD, and the fellow SGP II grantee Centre of Research and Inclusive Development Action or IDEA, also joined the AHP8 marketplace to sell their textile and honey products.
Looking ahead
As SGP II concludes, the ACB and KfW reaffirmed their commitment to building on the lessons, partnerships, and best practices developed throughout the programme.
Youths, women, and government representatives pledged their commitment to sustaining the programme’s gains and carrying forward its best practices—leaving messages of support on the pledge tree and sharing photos as a collective promise to remain steadfast stewards of nature.
Ms. Lidiya Prymachenko, Portfolio Manager of the KfW, mentioned several lessons learned from the programme implementation, highlighting the need to sustain the achievements even after the programme comes to its end in Viet Nam.
“We are proud to support this programme on behalf of the German Government. Its success stems from strong coordination among all stakeholders, as well as a clear focus on sustainability from the start. Prioritising high-impact, long-term initiatives has strengthened capacity and coordination for biodiversity conservation across the AHP network, and we thank ACB as our long-standing partner in biodiversity conservation and community transformation,” she said.
Closing the night, the ACB invited all conference participants to pledge their continued commitment—a promise to come together to share the programme’s best practices and become dedicated allies and stewards of nature in the years ahead.
The Partners’ Appreciation Night is one of the side events held during the AHP8 Conference in Quang Ninh, Viet Nam from 2 to 5 December. Hosted by Viet Nam through the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency, the AHP8 was organised by the ACB, with support from the European Union, through the 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 (TAF-GTEI) and the KfW through the SGP II, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, and IMA World Health. – END –
